Sen. Ernst: 'Okay' if Trump Works With Dems on Tax Reform

If President Donald Trump wants to reach across the aisle to get tax reform legislation passed, Sen. Joni Ernst said Tuesday she's okay with that.

"I think tax reform is a must-do," the Iowa Republican told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" program. "I don't want to see another situation where we fail to get policies across the finish line. If it takes a couple more moderates of the Democratic party joining us in this effort, I'm happy to have them along."

Earlier this month, Trump upset many Republicans when he sided with Democrats on adding a three-month extension of the U.S. debt limit and government spending to a hurricane-relief bill, after members of his own party had pressed for a longer debt extension.

Meanwhile, Ernst has introduced legislation seeking to roll back some of the perks former presidents are receiving, including government payments for their personal office space.

"What we have now is a situation where our former presidents have book deals and speaking engagements," Ernst said. "They are paid quite liberally in those areas. The American taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing for personal office space. It's time we do something about that. We have reintroduced this bill and are hopeful to get it over the finish line. What we want to do is cap what our former presidents are able to receive."

Also on Tuesday, Ernst responded to comments by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois, who said Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired Army general, disgraced his uniform for allowing Trump to say reform for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has six months to work itself out in Congress.

"I look at Gen. John Kelly and I have the greatest admiration and respect for him," said Ernst, a retired U.S. Army and National Guard veteran. "He has served honorably in our country's uniform services. Certainly his family has seen great sacrifice with the loss of his son. But he continues to serve our great country in a number of ways, and currently now as the chief of staff for President Trump. I think he is a great man. I'm glad he is where he is."

She also said she believes Gutierrez owes Kelly an apology.

Ernst also has started work on a global memorial for people who fight and sacrifice themselves in the war on terror.

"The president just signed this act into law," she said. "It is a memorial foundation for the global war on terror, and it is a private foundation that has been established. At some point in the near future we do hope to see a memorial to all those families that sacrificed all those service members that sacrificed for the global war on terror. "

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